Regular Expressions 101

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Detailed match information will be displayed here automatically.
  • All Tokens
  • Common Tokens
  • General Tokens
  • Anchors
  • Meta Sequences
  • Quantifiers
  • Group Constructs
  • Character Classes
  • Flags/Modifiers
  • Substitution
  • A single character of: a, b or c
    [abc]
  • A character except: a, b or c
    [^abc]
  • A character in the range: a-z
    [a-z]
  • A character not in the range: a-z
    [^a-z]
  • A character in the range: a-z or A-Z
    [a-zA-Z]
  • Any single character
    .
  • Alternate - match either a or b
    a|b
  • Any whitespace character
    \s
  • Any non-whitespace character
    \S
  • Any digit
    \d
  • Any non-digit
    \D
  • Any word character
    \w
  • Any non-word character
    \W
  • Match everything enclosed
    (?:...)
  • Capture everything enclosed
    (...)
  • Zero or one of a
    a?
  • Zero or more of a
    a*
  • One or more of a
    a+
  • Exactly 3 of a
    a{3}
  • 3 or more of a
    a{3,}
  • Between 3 and 6 of a
    a{3,6}
  • Start of string
    ^
  • End of string
    $
  • A word boundary
    \b
  • Non-word boundary
    \B

Regular Expression
No Match

r'
'
gm

Test String

Code Generator

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Generated Code

# coding=utf8 # the above tag defines encoding for this document and is for Python 2.x compatibility import re regex = r'(?sm)span class=\'Finish F(\d{1,2}).*?<td style="text-align:center">(\d{1,2}e*).*?target="_blank">(.+?)</a>.*?<td class=\'trainer\'>.*?target="_blank">(.+?)</a>.*?<td class=\'jockey\'>.*?<span class=\'Hilite\'>(.+?)</span></a>.*?<td style="text-align:center">(.*?)</td>.*?<td style="text-align:center">(.*?)</td>.*?<td>(.*?)</td>.*?<td>(.*?)</td>.*?<td>(.*?)</td>' test_str = ("<!-- start of races -->\n" "<a name=\"Race1\"></a><div class=\"race-title-spacer\"></div>\n" "<table width=\"750\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\" class=\"race-title\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <th><span>Race 1 - 1:50PM PEEL VALLEY TYRES - CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1200 METRES)</span>\n" " <span class=\"localtimedisplayed\">Times displayed in local time of Race Meeting</span>\n" " </th>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr>\n" " <td>\n\n" "<b>Of $22,000.1st $11,200, 2nd $3,900, 3rd $2,100, 4th $1,100, 5th $720, 6th $540, 7th $500, 8th $500, 9th $500, 10th $500, Equine Welfare Fund $220, Jockey Welfare Fund $220. </b><br>Maiden, Set Weights, Colts, Geldings and Entires, Apprentices can claim.<br>BOBS Bonus Available Up To $9625<br><br><b>Track Name:</b> Main <b>Track Type:</b> Turf <b>Track Condition:</b> Good 3 <b>Time:</b> 1:10.66 <b>Last 600m:</b> 0:36.42 <b>Timing Method:</b> Electronic\n\n" " \n" " </td>\n" " </tr>\n" "</table>\n\n" "<br>\n\n" "<table width=\"750\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"race-strip-fields\">\n" " <tr>\n" " <th class=\"no\">Color</th>\n" " <th style=\"text-align:center\" width=\"5%\">Finish</th>\n" " <th style=\"text-align:center\" width=\"5%\">No.</th>\n" " <th width=\"20%\">Horse</th>\n" " <th width=\"19%\">Trainer</th>\n" " <th width=\"20%\">Jockey</th>\n" " <th style=\"text-align:center\" width=\"6%\">Margin</th>\n" " <th style=\"text-align:center\" width=\"2%\">Bar.</th>\n" " <th width=\"12%\">Weight</th>\n" " <th width=\"5%\">Penalty</th>\n" " <th width=\"15%\">Starting Price</th> \n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='EvenRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/34223.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F1'>1</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/34223.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">1</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU2NjQ1OTA4MA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDc0NjUzMzA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">AKECHETA</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=NDE0NjM4Mjgw&trainername=Melanie+O%27Gorman\" target=\"_blank\">Melanie O'Gorman</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=MjM3MTA3MTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Andrew Gibbons</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"></td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">7</td>\n" " <td>59kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$1.40F</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='OddRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/43103.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F2'>2</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/43103.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">5</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=MTEyMjI1NjYyMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDk2NDg3MDA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">KENNYWYN</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MTkzMDczNDA%3d&trainername=Les+Roberts\" target=\"_blank\">Les Roberts</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=MjQ3NDk2NzA%3d\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Michael Squires</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">1.91L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">5</td>\n" " <td>59kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$8.50</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='EvenRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/61483.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F3'>3</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/61483.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">4</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU2Mzk3NjAxMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDkxMTcwMTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">JOHN PAUL</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MjI5MzI1MTc4NjA%3d&trainername=Craig+Clegg\" target=\"_blank\">Craig Clegg</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=ODMxMDE3MDQw\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Ms Belinda Hodder</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">1.92L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">3</td>\n" " <td>59kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$26</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='OddRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/9041.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F4'>4</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/9041.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">8</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU5MjQxNDIxMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDcxMTAxMzA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">MICK&rsquo;S REGRET</a> <span style=\"float:right\"><img alt='BOBS Bonus Scheme' title='BOBS Bonus Scheme' src='/design/images/BonusLogos/BOBS.png' style='vertical-align:middle;' /></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MjIyMDY2NjA%3d&trainername=Sue+Grills\" target=\"_blank\">Sue Grills</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=ODgzMTc4MTYw\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Ms Rachael Murray</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">3.63L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">8</td>\n" " <td>58.5kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$15</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='EvenRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/61334.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F5'>5</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/61334.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">9</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU4Mzg0MTY4MA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDMwMjMxMTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">PATAGONIAN</a> <span style=\"float:right\"><img alt='BOBS Bonus Scheme' title='BOBS Bonus Scheme' src='/design/images/BonusLogos/BOBS.png' style='vertical-align:middle;' /></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MTI5MzU5NDA%3d&trainername=Paul+Perry\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Perry</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=OTQzODc1MTgw\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Travis Wolfgram</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">5.83L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">6</td>\n" " <td>58.5kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$6</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='OddRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8949.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F6'>6</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8949.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">3</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU4OTY0ODA5MA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDk1Mjc3MTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">CHEROKEE (NZ)</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MjIyMDY2NjA%3d&trainername=Sue+Grills\" target=\"_blank\">Sue Grills</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=NTU4NzI2NjAzMA%3d%3d\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Ms Wendy Peel</span><span class='apprentice-claim'> (a1.5/50kg)</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">6.4L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">4</td>\n" " <td>59kg (cd 57.5kg)</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$41</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='EvenRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8544.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F7'>7</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8544.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">10</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU5MjIyNjYyMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDcyODQ0MDA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">TONOSAMA</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MTk2MTM3MDA%3d&trainername=Mack+Griffith\" target=\"_blank\">Mack Griffith</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=MjMzMDIyMzA%3d\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Grant Buckley</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">8.24L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">1</td>\n" " <td>58.5kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$15</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='OddRow'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/69256.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"><span class='Finish F8'>8</span></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/69256.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">2</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU2ODE3MDcwMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDg2Njg1NzA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">BOUNDARY RYDER</a> <span style=\"float:right\"></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=MjE3ODI2NDA%3d&trainername=Ruth+Cooper\" target=\"_blank\">Ruth Cooper</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=OTQwOTA1OTMw\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Vad Bolozhinskyi</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">9.23L</td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">2</td>\n" " <td>59kg</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td>$91</td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='EvenRow Scratched'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8343.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/8343.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">6</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU4MjA1NzkxMA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NTA5NTQwNjA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">COMES &rsquo;N&rsquo; GOES</a> <span style=\"float:right\"><img alt='BOBS Bonus Scheme' title='BOBS Bonus Scheme' src='/design/images/BonusLogos/BOBS.png' style='vertical-align:middle;' /></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=ODIzODgzMDcw&trainername=Luke+A+Thomas\" target=\"_blank\">Luke A Thomas</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=MA%3d%3d\" target=\"_blank\"></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"></td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">0</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " </tr>\n" " <tr class='OddRow Scratched'>\n" " <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/80013.png\" /></td>\n" " \n" " <td></td>\n" " \n" " <!-- <td><img class=\"minimizeStyle\" onmouseover=\"showBigImage(this);\" onmouseout=\"showSmallImage(this);\" src=\"https://www.racingaustralia.horse/JockeySilks/80013.png\" /></td> -->\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">7</td>\n" " \n" " \n" " <td class='horse'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?horsecode=NTU4ODIxMDY0MA%3d%3d&src=horseform&raceentry=MTI3NDkwODgxNTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\">ENSEGUIDA</a> <span style=\"float:right\"><img alt='BOBS Bonus Scheme' title='BOBS Bonus Scheme' src='/design/images/BonusLogos/BOBS.png' style='vertical-align:middle;' /></span></td>\n" " <td class='trainer'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/TrainerLastRuns.aspx?trainercode=ODQzOTc3NDAw&trainername=Nathan+Doyle\" target=\"_blank\">Nathan Doyle</a></td> \n" " \n" " <td class='jockey'><a class='GreenLink' href=\"../InteractiveForm/JockeyLastRuns.aspx?jockeycode=MjMxMDE0NjU0MTA%3d\" target=\"_blank\"><span class='Hilite'>Ashley Morgan</span></a></td> \n" " \n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\"></td>\n" " <td style=\"text-align:center\">0</td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " <td></td>\n" " </tr>\n" " \n" "</table>") matches = re.finditer(regex, test_str, re.MULTILINE) for matchNum, match in enumerate(matches, start=1): print ("Match {matchNum} was found at {start}-{end}: {match}".format(matchNum = matchNum, start = match.start(), end = match.end(), match = match.group())) for groupNum in range(0, len(match.groups())): groupNum = groupNum + 1 print ("Group {groupNum} found at {start}-{end}: {group}".format(groupNum = groupNum, start = match.start(groupNum), end = match.end(groupNum), group = match.group(groupNum))) # Note: for Python 2.7 compatibility, use ur'' to prefix the regex and u"" to prefix the test string and substitution.

Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for Python, please visit: https://docs.python.org/3/library/re.html